双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月5日 生命的主

7月5日

生命的主

“爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命；在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。”

约翰福音12:25

很多基督徒会说，我已经是教会的一员，我已经受过坚振礼，我已经做到最好了。但在他们的内心深处，他们还没有体验到真正完全的委身于基督。对他们来说，耶稣基督可能是他们的救赎主，但还不是他们生命的主。救赎主和生命的主不可分开，祂是主耶稣基督。

我们都是按照神的形象被造的，我们被造是为了荣耀神。我们是为神而造的，没有神，我们的生命就空虚。只要单单顺服耶稣基督，这种空虚就能被填满。

我们想要及时行乐，什么事都要立刻。保罗说：“因为那时，人要专顾自己，贪爱钱财，自夸，狂傲，谤讟，违背父母，忘恩负义，心不圣洁，无亲情，不解怨，好说谗言，不能自约，性情凶暴，不爱良善，卖主卖友，任意妄为，自高自大，爱宴乐，不爱神”（提摩太后书3:1-2，4）我们喜欢享乐，我们追逐享乐、追逐幸福、追逐刺激。但那不过是短暂的刺激，只会带来反效果。保罗说，“但那好宴乐的寡妇正活着的时候也是死的。”（提摩太前书5:6）

你只是在肉体上活着，而你的里面是死的，你自己知道。你的灵魂、你的心灵对上帝而言是死的。因为你从来没有来到十字架前说：“主啊，我完全降服。”

圣经在哥林多前书10:6说，我们不可贪恋恶事。彼得说：“亲爱的弟兄啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲；这私欲是与灵魂争战的。”（彼得前书2:11）私欲与魂、与灵争战，挑战我们与神的关系。

费瑟士东（William R.Featherstone）却截然不同。他在大约16岁的时候写道：“恩主，我爱你，我深知你属我；一切罪中乐，我为你全摆脱。你是我救主，曾流血将我买；如果我爱你，主耶稣，是现在！”诗人说：“你必将生命的道路指示我。在你面前有满足的喜乐；在你右手中有永远的福乐。”（诗篇16:11）

永远的福乐，不是片刻的福乐。不是稍纵即逝的一夜狂欢，而是永远的福乐。只要我们完全顺服，我们就永远享有这个福乐。

今日祷告：

我们在天上的父神，我的心全然降服于祢，我知道我将永远享受与你同在的喜乐；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

July 5

IS HE YOUR LORD–OR JUST YOUR SAVIOR?

He that loveth his life shall lose it;ad he that hateth his life in his world shall keep it unto life eternal.John 12:25

Many Christians can say,“I’m a member of the church.I’ve been confirmed.I’ve tried to do my best.”But deep in their hearts they haven’t really experienced Christ in total commitment.He may be their Savior;but He hasn’t yet become their Lord,and Lord and Savior must go together.He is the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are made in the image of God.We are made to glorify God.We are made for God;and without God there is an empty place in our life.That empty place can be filled by a simple surrender to Jesus Christ.

Instant pleasure-we want it.And we want it all now.Paul said,“In the last days…men shall be…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”(2 Timothy 3:1-2,4).We want pleasure.We are searching for pleasure,and searching for happiness,and searching for kicks,and we get them temporarily,and then comes the morning after.The kick has a kickback.Paul said,“She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth”(1 Timothy 5:6).Physically your’re alive,but something is dead inside,and you know it.It’s your soul,it’s your spirit-dead toward God because you have never really come to the Cross and said,“Lord,I surrender all.”

The Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 10:6 that we should not lust.Peter said,“I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,abstain from fleshly lusts,which war against the soul”(1 Peter 2:11).Lusts fight the soul.They fight the spirit.They fight our relationship with God.

How different it was with William R.Featherstone.He was about sixteen when he wrote,“My Jesus,I love Thee,I know Thou art mine;For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;My gracious Redeemer,my Savior art Thou;If ever I loved Thee,my Jesus,‘tis now.”And the psalmist said,“Thou wilt shew me the path of life:in thy presence is fullness of joy:at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”(Psalm 16:11)Forevermore.Not the pleasure of a moment.Not the pleasure of an exciting evening that soon is past-but forever.This pleasure is ours on the path of complete surrender.

Pray for the Day:

Father in heaven,I surrender my heart to You,and I know that I will experience joy forever with You;in Jesus’Name,Amen.